At Faith Christian School, we administer different types of standardized tests in Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. These tests serve different purposes as we endeavor to measure the academic progress of our students.

Beginning in Lower School, students at Faith Christian School are assessed using DIBELS ® (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) to detect risk and monitor the development of early literacy skills. Skills assessed include letter recognition, phonemic awareness, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. We assess students in kindergarten twice a year and students in first through third grade three times a year. This testing helps guide instruction as well as determine any needs for intervention and remediation. 

Next, students in grades 2-8 sit for ERB testing in January each year. All full-time students take the Comprehensive Testing Program, or CTP5. These tests assess students in reading, writing, and mathematics and help evaluate student achievement in these key areas compared to other private schools. Results track individual and class achievement over time as well and are filed in the student’s permanent records. Parents receive ERB results at the end of the school year.

Upper School students in grades 9-11 sit for the PSATs at FCS in October. The PSAT is preliminary to the SAT I test needed for college admissions. The focus of PSATs is verbal and math skills, including reading, writing, vocabulary, algebra, and geometry.

Beginning in junior year, students are encouraged to take the SAT I test twice, followed by a third test in senior year. Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing are tested, and students may report their best scores on any individual test in their college applications. Students who want to submit scores in particular subject areas may take the SAT II tests. This level of testing may be required by some colleges.

As an alternative, some students opt to take the ACT instead of the SAT I. Since the ACT is more achievement-oriented than the SAT, this test may be preferable in some cases, and many colleges accept ACT results. The ACT is not required, but it is recommended.

Finally, FCS has been offering the Classic Learning Test (CLT) in grades 8, 11, and 12. The reading sections of these tests use classical literature and historical texts for student assessment. Other areas of assessment include grammar and mathematics. Each year, more colleges are accepting CLT results.

FCS is committed to using these evaluations as one means of determining the academic progress of students from their earliest years as well as assisting in the college admissions process as they prepare to complete their senior year.

- By Kristan Brown, Head of Divisions